by Lisa Andel
"What did you bring me?” He loomed over the guy, and I felt a twinge of sympathy for him.
"How was I supposed to know?” The blond man was sweating buckets.
The other two vamps surrounded him, and I used the distraction to slip past them.
By the time I made it back to my seat, Rainth looked so tense that I thought he'd explode.
"Where the hell have you been? I sent a woman into the bathroom looking for you and she told me you weren't in there."
"Some blond guy took me outside and gave me to some vamps.” I found my drink and took a swallow of it.
Rainth shoved my hair behind my shoulders and cursed as he saw the healing puncture marks.
"I did warn them."
Understanding dawned on Rainth's face, and he visibly relaxed as he started to laugh. “So you were serious when you said that?"
"Yup. I really do taste like shit."
He grabbed me, and kissed me hard. “Not to me you don't."
I actually blushed at his compliment.
"Come on.” He slid off his stool, and tugged my hand. “Let's dance."
I dragged my feet, but he managed to get me out onto the dance floor anyway.
"I don't know how to dance."
He took me into his arms as a soft, slow melody emerged from the speakers. “Just relax, and let your body move with mine."
Dancing turned out to be a wonderful thing. It was a form of foreplay. I was so aroused by the time the song ended that I almost groaned.
"I think it's time to get back to the inn.” Rainth sounded strained.
I was all for the idea, since that was where the bed was.
* * * *
I realized the next morning that Rainth's men had rooms surrounding ours. As we ate breakfast in the small dining room, I caught several of the men looking at me speculatively. One just stared, his mouth hanging open.
"What's with them?” I whispered to Rainth.
Rainth's expression was one of pure male satisfaction. “You make a lot of noise when you're happy."
"I what?” Then I got it. “Oh."
What did I care? Great sex was great sex, and more power to anybody that got some.
I kissed him on the cheek, and whispered into his ear, “That's because you wield that enormous cock of yours with such skill."
The men choked and sputtered on their food. I frowned at them.
"Weres also have exceptional hearing,” Rainth informed me.
"Ah.” So many new things to learn. I was finding it all very exciting.
I finished my plate of food, and was still hungry. I noticed that Rainth hadn't touched his pancakes. Then I noticed that none of the men had.
Helping myself to Rainth's, and two of the others, I dug in. When I'd finished with those, I sat back, pondering over having some more.
Everyone was watching me, expressions ranging from disbelief to awe.
"Get enough?” One of Rainth's men asked me.
"It'll do.” I guess I wouldn't eat any more since it seemed to disturb them.
Today Rainth had dressed me in a blue denim miniskirt, a white halter top, and white strappy sandals with shorter, wider heels.
The panties he'd chosen left a lot to be desired. The front was okay. Just a triangle of white fabric, but the back consisted of only a string that lodged between my butt cheeks.
I decided to ditch the panties at the first available opportunity.
He took me on a walking tour of the town. We stopped in several shops and he ended up buying me a couple more outfits. Including shoes.
The humans seemed to be a rather ordinary lot, one that I was quickly becoming bored with. “Aren't there any interesting people?” I grouched, reaching back to dig the string out of my ass.
Rainth grabbed my hand, chuckling. “Unacceptable behavior."
Who gives a shit. I quit digging, though.
He led me into a different section of town. The shops looked much more interesting, and I perked up.
The first one he took me into was called Amos Ayers. The store had a plethora of smells, all combining into a potpourri that was rather pleasant.
Bookshelves filled about half of the available space. There were long display cases filled with all variety of crystals, and shelves laden with apothecary jars lined the walls.
A tiny, wrinkled old man came out of a back room when we entered the shop.
"Afternoon, folks.” He shuffled over to the counter and went behind it. “Something in particular I can help you with?"
"Are you a practitioner?” Rainth asked as he sauntered over to the man.
"Yes."
Rainth had reached the counter and the old man perked up as he studied him.
I sidled up next to the were, and leaned my elbows on the counter.
"Ah.” The old man said as he looked me over. “I am pleased to meet both of you. I'm Amos."
"Rainth, and this is Allie."
"What can I do for you?” The old man had to tip his head back to look Rainth in the eye.
"We're trying to find out what Allie is capable of."
Amos stared at me for a long time, then shook his head.
"You'll want to see Giselle. She's got Fortuna just down the street, on the other side."
We turned to leave, thanking the man for his assistance.
"Wait a minute,” he called after us, then nearly sprinted over to the cases that held the crystals. He fumbled to get into one of them, his hands shaking with excitement. When he'd managed to get the case open, he reached inside.
Happy with what he'd retrieved, he scurried over to Rainth and me, then held up a necklace. “Tanzanite. It's for physical and psychic protection.” He waved a gnarled hand at me, and I leaned towards him.
He worked it over my head, dropping it around my neck. Afterwards, he instructed me to hold the crystal in the palm of my hand. I could feel a tingling of energy radiating from the blue-purple stone. It warmed to my touch, then grew hotter as I held it.
"It's warm,” I said, amazed.
He patted my arm. “When I look at you, I see that trouble is drawn to your side. Wear it in good health."
Rainth removed his wallet, and the man looked like he was going to be ill.
"It's a gift, and much stronger for the giving,” he told Rainth in a solemn tone.
With that he shooed us out the door.
I was fondling the crystal that Amos had given me, not paying attention to where we were going, when Rainth pulled me to a halt. “Let's cross here,” he said, then tugged me into the street. As I glanced up from the crystal to see what the problem was, my eyes landed on the blond man from last night. Though he was standing in the shadow between two buildings, it was easy to see that he was watching me. I could also see that he had been beaten severely.
"Here it is. What was the woman's name?"
"Giselle.” I answered absently, as he propelled me through the door, into the shop.
Fortuna was a larger shop with a lighter, airier feel to it. There were crystals hanging in the large front windows, creating rainbows of color. Elegant barrister bookcases lined the side wall and part of the back wall. Books were shown in about half of them, the other half devoted to ingredients and potions.
On the far side of the room was a cozy sitting area near the front windows. Closer to the door, several displays sported crystal constructs, jewelry, wands, and assorted paraphernalia. A gleaming white counter ran the length of the right side of the shop, extending around the corner, where the cash register was located next to a navy velvet curtain decorated with silver stars.
A middle-aged woman, her hair stylishly piled on top of her head, swept through the curtain and glided over to us. Her soft, intelligent eyes scanned Rainth quickly, then settled over me.
"You must be Allie. I just got off the phone with Amos, in case you're wondering.” Her voice was soft and melodious. Low, for a woman's, but not masculine. “You're trying to find out what abilities you have?” she as
ked pleasantly.
I nodded at her dumbly.
"Well, come on then.” She led us through the drape at the back of the store and into a side room decorated in velvet and candles. There was a small sitting area, but the focus of the room was a round table with several chairs.
Bypassing the table, Giselle led us to the seating group and motioned for us to sit down.
Rainth and I sat together on the loveseat, his firm thigh pressed against mine.
Giselle sat next to me, then scooted her chair around so that she was positioned directly in front of me. Resting her forearms on her knees, she extended her hands. “Give me your hands.” I placed my palms against hers, and she closed her fingers around them. I watched as her eyes unfocused, but remained open, then her irises began to swirl in a weird pattern of light and dark. She sat that way for several minutes, her irises spinning with greater agitation the longer she sat. I jerked in surprise when her body was literally lifted away from me and tossed halfway across the room.
Rainth was on his feet and at her side before I'd quit gasping in shock.
"Giselle.” He turned her gently onto her back. “Giselle.” He cupped her face, then gathered her wrists in his hands and rubbed them rhythmically.
I knelt on her other side. Her eyes were wide open, staring sightlessly at the ceiling. She was breathing, but her color was gray. I felt her forehead, and she blinked.
"Giselle?” I asked.
Slowly, she turned her head in my direction, and focused on me. The rest of the color blanched out of her face.
Rainth helped her to her feet, guiding her to the chair she'd been thrown from. She slumped into it and dropped her head into her hands. Rainth and I exchanged a look, then we both went back to staring at Giselle.
Her color had come back a little, when she finally raised her head. “Well.” She cleared her throat and started again. “I can't tell you what abilities you have. I'm not sure what I ran into, but, if I had to guess, I'd say you've been cursed. The curse is what's keeping you from your potential."
I'll be damned. Literally. It never occurred to me that my shortcomings might not be my fault. But who would want to curse me? As far back as I could remember I'd been like I am now, so I had to have been an infant when it happened.
"Thank you. What can we do for you in exchange for this information?” I asked.
Her gaze landed on Rainth. “I wouldn't mind an evening with Rainth.” She licked her lower lip as she studied the were.
Shit. I'd been looking forward to getting back to the room at the inn.
"Can you give us a minute?” Rainth asked Giselle, and she politely left the room.
When we were alone, Rainth moved closer to me. “What do you think?"
"I don't know. I was looking forward to getting back to our room, but I can always find something else to do."
"I'm supposed to be protecting you, and I can't very well do that if I'm not near you.” He placed his hand on my shoulder.
"So tell one of your guys to come here and escort me.” I was getting turned on, and that wasn't helping the situation.
"I know this isn't going to make any sense to you, but promise me you won't have sex with any of my men.” He dropped his arm around me, squeezing me to his chest.
I couldn't help but grin. “It was my first thought. But if you don't want me to, I'll find someone else, okay? Maybe I'll even try a human."
He chuckled, then kissed me with unrestrained passion.
"You keep that up, I'll have to tell Giselle I'm not letting you sleep with her."
He nibbled down my neck, pausing to suckle on a section near the base. Moisture pooled between my thighs. “You could always join us.” His voice had deepened with arousal.
I choked. “Uh, you know what a fuck-up I am as an elf? Well ... I'm not the least bit interested in women. In fact...” I blushed. I'd never dreamed the topic would ever come up. “It makes me feel icky to think about it.” I hung my head. Another thing that marked me as a loser.
My kind reveled in sex. Had it whenever and with whoever they could. Me? I wanted it whenever I could get it; my problem was that no one wanted it with me. I also never, ever wanted it with women. I was totally creeped out by the idea. And I'd had to admit that shortcoming to a man who thought he already knew all my failings.
"Sweetheart, weres are pretty much the same way. Aggressively heterosexual. Where I'm from, we find races such as yours a little loose in the morals department. Though I've yet to meet a man, regardless of race, that didn't get a thrill from the idea of having two women at the same time."
He kissed me again. “Derek will be here shortly."
I wriggled out of his grasp. “I'll see you tomorrow?"
"I'll let you know."
* * * *
I waited outside the shop for Derek.
I scanned the dark spaces between the buildings for the blond guy, but I didn't see him. The sun was getting lower in the sky, the time getting closer for the vampires to come out.
Derek finally came walking down the street, his loose-hipped stride looking entirely too sexy. When he got closer, I realized that he had been the one who had watched Rainth and me having sex. Too bad Rainth had made me promise not to sleep with any of his men.
"Hey, little one. Where would you like to go?” A casual grin graced his face, and I felt my stomach flutter.
"Hey, Derek. I'm hungry. Can we go get something to eat?"
I fell in beside him as we walked away from Fortuna and Rainth. I was feeling free and easy, walking down the cobbled road, knowing that I could seek any man I set my sights on tonight. Any man, that is, except one of Rainth's.
Derek took me to a small restaurant that had a cozy atmosphere, with candles on every table, and served great food called Italian.
I selected several of the dishes, including antipasto, manicotti, lasagna, and garlic bread. The most amazing part of the meal was that I couldn't eat all of it.
"This stuff really fills you up fast.” I patted my stomach, then clamped my lips together to keep from belching.
Derek just smiled at me, like he'd known all along that I wouldn't be able to eat all that I'd ordered. “I do love to watch you eat though,” he told me, as he took care of the check.
I pointed at his wallet before he'd had a chance to put it back into his pocket. “Think I can have some of that?"
"Do you know how to use it?” His expression said he doubted I did.
"No. But if we get separated, don't you think I might need some?"
"Rainth would have my ass if I lost track of you.” He counted his change.
"Rainth is busy fucking Giselle,” I pointed out, reasonably.
He'd shoved his wallet in his back pocket, and I was trying to figure out how to get it out of there again.
"So?” He took me by my elbow, and started steering me down the street.
"So, I'm going to find me somebody to fuck.” I guess I was staring at his ass, though in truth I was really concentrating on his wallet.
He wrapped an arm around me, and pulled me against his chest. Shocked, I looked up at him, and he kissed me before I saw it coming. I opened my mouth to protest and he slipped his tongue inside.
He was good. I fell into the kiss, and even ground myself against his erection for a while before the little voice in my head reminded me that he was off limits.
I pushed on his chest. He fondled my breasts and I almost gave in. I pushed again, and he released my mouth with a hiss.
"What?” he snarled at me.
"Rainth made me promise not to have sex with any of his men,” I said, breathlessly, still aware of the hard length of him pressed to my belly.
"Fuck.” He stared at me, his eyes glowing with arousal. Then his features hardened and he pried his hands off my body. “By the gods, I am going to pay that man back for this,” he muttered as he started walking again.
"Hey Derek?” I hurried to catch up.
He grunted at me.
&
nbsp; "Am I dressed right to attract a man?” I meant other men. I knew how Derek felt. Or rather, I figured he was just doing it as some macho thing because his boss was fucking me.
He snorted. “Honey, you could wear a sack and men would fight over who got to fuck you."
"Really?” I stumbled to a halt. I hadn't expected that answer.
He glared back at me. Then his features softened. “Man, who fucked with your head?"
"I don't know what you mean,” I whispered.
"Al, you're an incredibly sexy woman, yet you have no idea what you do to men.” He latched onto my elbow again and got me moving. “If it weren't for Rainth, I'm not sure I'd even make it back to the inn before I had my way with you."
"Yeah, well. Except for you and Rainth, every other man I've ever met in my life never gave me a second glance."
"Then there's something wrong with the men you've been around. I can guarantee that every one of Rainth's men would fuck you in a heartbeat."
"Nice of you to say.” I shuffled along at his side, my thoughts straying from the conversation since I didn't really believe him.
"Shit.” He shook his shaggy head. “You don't believe me."
"Nope.” I bumped him good-naturedly with my shoulder. “It's okay though, I'm used to it.” What I wasn't used to were these panties. They were sawing into the tender flesh between my cheeks, aggravating the living hell out of me. “Oh, for the love of Mith!” I cursed, then reached up under my skirt. I worked the offending material off my hips, then down my legs. I mashed them in my hand, shaking the wad at Derek. “These are an evil torture device."
His eyes were wide, his face suffused with color. I couldn't tell if he were shocked, or trying not to laugh. Grabbing my arm, he covered the panties with one of his large hands, wrenching them out of my grasp. “Don't wave those things around.” He was laughing as he said it.
"You try wearing them,” I huffed at him.
"I'm going to kill Rainth.” He shook his head while he stuffed the panties into his pocket.
We rounded the corner, and there was a club ahead that looked promising. The music didn't have the same heavy beat that the club I'd been in last night had, but it had an energy all its own that I rather liked.
